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Lead your team like a Jazz band
I can’t stay away from New Orleans for very long. It’s a city that gets under your skin — it drips with creativity. It’s a city where music and art is everywhere. There are music venues on almost every block; there are art galleries, and art fairs everywhere. The food is creative in New Orleans,…
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Another trip around the sun
Last year I started a project to list 42 things I have learned until now. I had hoped to get through the list. In reality I got through a little more than 1/4 of my list. Things happened, and I didn’t feel that my list would be appropriate to continue under those circumstances. I was…
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How I did it
How I got a job in tech after getting laid off. I was laid off in May along with 20% of Shopify and this past week I signed an offer letter with an exciting startup. The startup upscribe.io is early stage, which excites me. I love startups, and never worked at one at this stage.…
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AlgoExpert and Technical Interviews
I wrote previously about my approach to technical interviews. I think there’s a lot of value in catering your interviews towards the needs of the job. I once interviewed a candidate who choked on a relatively simple algorithm. Because someone had referred them, we did a second technical interview which focused more on the specific…
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On Self Care
I was laid off two week ago from Shopify along with 20% of the company. I previously talked about what I was doing to find my next position. But I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about what I’m doing to take care of myself. Getting fired is one of the more stressful things…
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What I want to do next
After sharing that I was laid off this past week along with 20% of Shopify I was asked what I want to do next. TLDR I’m eager to build and lead a team as a software engineering manager or technical lead in a company that embraces experimentation, best development practices, and empowers people. My goal…
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Today I was laid off with 20% of Shopify
Update: Some people have asked what I’m looking to do next. * As a philosophy major and self-taught engineer, getting hired by one of the highest regarded companies for its technical innovation has been a dream. I made it through the first round almost a year ago, where 10% were laid off. Unfortunately this time…
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16. Everything Has its Place
This essay is part of my 42 Deep Thoughts project. If you ever want to have a luxurious cooking experience pre-prepare all of the ingredients in advance in bowls so that while you’re cooking you have each ingredient ready when it’s needed. In French this preparation is called mise en place — everything put in…
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15. Be a PIG Person
This essay is part of my 42 Deep Thoughts project. Like a slogan, intentions can be a great way to embed depth and meaning in a few simple words. Unlike a slogan, the audience of an intention is a single individual, so that meaning isn’t at risk of getting lost. I wrote previously about setting…
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14. Set an Intention
This essay is part of my 42 Deep Thoughts project. I was in a deep funk several years ago. I had just gotten a new manager who had no interest in managing people, only tasks. He had zero interest in getting any context on where I was professionally, what I had achieved thus far, and…